News

Construction crews working on the 1st Street renovation are making visible progress on a project expected to last all summer long.

Construction crews working on the 1st Street renovation are making visible progress on a project expected to last all summer long.

1st Street renovation program on schedule

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Construction crews have been busy working on the 1st Street renovation for the past two weeks, making visible progress on a project expected to last all summer long.
Go Big GIVE 2025 raises nearly $430,000 for Hamilton County non-profits

Go Big GIVE 2025 raises nearly $430,000 for Hamilton County non-profits

12th annual Go Big GIVE raises $2M

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Donors made waves with their generosity during Go Big GIVE Thursday, raising a record preliminary $2,005,744 last week for 167 nonprofits in Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick counties.
Marc Kroger will wind down his time teaching physics and chemistry at Aurora High School later this month, as he steps away from a career in education he started 33 years ago.

Marc Kroger will wind down his time teaching physics and chemistry at Aurora High School later this month, as he steps away from a career in education he started 33 years ago.

Kroger, the AHS science guy, calls it a career

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Science was one of Marc Kroger’s favorite subjects back in high school, so he figured early on he was either going to be a teacher or a doctor.
Macy Miller will be the valedictorian and Raegan Hansen the salutatorian at the Hampton High School graduation ceremony on Saturday.

Macy Miller will be the valedictorian and Raegan Hansen the salutatorian at the Hampton High School graduation ceremony on Saturday.

Hampton to graduate 14 on Saturday

News Staff
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Fourteen Hampton Hawks are set to leave the nest and soar into their future on Saturday as Hampton High School holds its 2025 graduation ceremony. The event will be held in the new gym starting at 2 p.m.
Valedictorian Caleb Sharman and co-salutatorians Gage Friesen and Allie Howell will speak at Saturday's High Plains graduation.

Valedictorian Caleb Sharman and co-salutatorians Gage Friesen and Allie Howell will speak at Saturday's High Plains graduation.

HPC to honor 2025 grads Saturday

News Staff
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Twenty-three High Plains Community Schools seniors will celebrate their next big milestone in life Saturday.The HPC class of 2025 commencement exercises will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. at the high school gym in Polk.
Eloise Francois is a senior at Aurora High School and will be graduating with her classmates on Sunday, May 18. Francois plans to start college in Belgium where she will either major in nutrition or physical therapy.

Eloise Francois is a senior at Aurora High School and will be graduating with her classmates on Sunday, May 18. Francois plans to start college in Belgium where she will either major in nutrition or physical therapy.

Francois discovers new culture

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Arriving from Belgium, foreign exchange student Eloise Francois has stepped out to the open fields of Nebraska to open her mind to a life outside of her small country. Not wanting miss her high school years in Belgium, Francois waited until after graduation there to see the U.S.
The nonprofit Aurora Housing Development Corporation has purchased the 10-unit Robin Estates Subdivision from California-based Dana Point Development Corporation, which initiated the project 15 years ago.

The nonprofit Aurora Housing Development Corporation has purchased the 10-unit Robin Estates Subdivision from California-based Dana Point Development Corporation, which initiated the project 15 years ago.

AHDC acquires Robin Estates properties

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
A 10-unit income-based housing subdivision built in 2010 is owned by a local nonprofit organization as of April 30, adding to the Aurora Housing Development Corporation’s growing list of assets.
Prior to the graduation ceremony, graduating senior Sophie Faltys (left) takes a selfie with her classmates. Featured in the selfie includes, from left: Jordan Margritz, Giovanna Nogara. In back: Kaitlyn Kothe.

Prior to the graduation ceremony, graduating senior Sophie Faltys (left) takes a selfie with her classmates. Featured in the selfie includes, from left: Jordan Margritz, Giovanna Nogara. In back: Kaitlyn Kothe.

Hornets ready to ‘leave mark on world’

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Full of laughter and anticipation for what the future will bring, 10 graduating seniors walked the hallways one last time and celebrated all they have achieved at Giltner High School’s commencement ceremony Sunday afternoon.
Pastor Arin Hess, president of Capitol Studies which provides chaplaincy services at the Nebraska State Capitol, was the main speaker for the Hamilton County Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning.

Pastor Arin Hess, president of Capitol Studies which provides chaplaincy services at the Nebraska State Capitol, was the main speaker for the Hamilton County Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning.

Senate chaplain urges prayer breakfast crowd to consider their mission

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
The pre-dawn hour was early, but spirits were bright for the Hamilton County Prayer Breakfast on the National Day of Prayer Thursday at The Leadership Center. A crowd of all ages, estimated at near 90, turned out for the annual event which started at 6:15 a.m.
The Nebraska State Capitol Building in Lincoln

The Nebraska State Capitol Building in Lincoln

County hears impact of state revenue shortfall

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Debate is expected to start in the Unicameral this week on the state’s budget, and senators are having to grapple with an estimated $400 million revenue shortfall.